The Unshadowed | Book 1 | The Irangel arc

Chapter 5 ~ Diamond and Gold

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~ Sinyaki, Russia ~

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Flutters of snowflakes danced down from the sky, completing their joined mission to turn the ground below into a beautiful, snowy white blanket. The cold, freezing air only signified more than the fabled return of Father Frost, whose icy fingers laced windows with intricate designs and whose breath chilled to the bone; it meant that winter was already here.

Valerie had grown up in Persten, Russia, and went to college there. She left town midway through completing preliminary college courses. She moved to Jaslow, Russia, to start anew. She attended Jaslow State Community College and met her ex there while finishing her degree. Before she could move on to a major university, however, Matson Blades left her for another woman. Their breakup had forever altered Valerie's life.

Unable to bear the pain, Valerie moved to Sinyaki, Russia, and lived there for eight months. Valerie officially dropped out of school and worked as a receptionist at a large medical hospital in Sinyaki. The cost of having an apartment was too much for her to afford even with her not-so-meager income, so she shared one with a roommate who later became her boyfriend.

That roommate was the reason Valerie absolutely did not look forward to going back to her apartment. Yuri had been persistent in his affection for her, and though Valerie did not love him, she allowed their relationship to be, simply because she was so lonely and was still struggling with the haunting memories of the past. Now she had to face a new past again, but this time she wasn't alone.

Valerie glanced at Civic, who was flying side by side with her. Like Demian, Civic was a total stranger. She didn't know him that well, but she felt he was someone she could trust. There is a certain warmth in knowing someone who comes from a similar background as me, or at least from the same country, Valerie thought, recalling how nice it felt to have that certain similarity with someone.

Or any similarity at all. Valerie sighed, depression starting to inhabit her mind again. I'm too different from everyone. I don't belong here. I never will.

"Well this is one thing I could definitely get used to," said Civic, interrupting her thoughts. "Never being too cold or too hot anymore. Our bodies stay warm no matter what the temperature."

"It is wonderful," Valerie agreed, glad she no longer felt like a matryoshka doll, bundled up in layers and layers of warm clothing. As a human, she was temperature sensitive and got cold very easily. Sunny weather made her feel dizzy and depressed, and she loved cloudy days the best.

Hence, these wings I have, Valerie thought, glancing to admire them from the side. It's amazing how even our wings portray some part of our personalities and interests. It's as if they know I love roses and glitter. Roses have always been my favorite flowers.

Valerie hung back, rising up so that she was flying directly above Civic to see his wings better. They were the brightest wings she had ever seen, luminous gold and magnificent. It's like they're made of liquid gold, Valerie thought in astonishment. The ends of every feather dripped in molten golden glitter, mesmerizing as they shone like the sun. Civic's wings were so bright they could light up the area around him for at least five or seven kilometers. They reminded her of Icarus's wings in paintings.

Bright and shiny. Magnificent. Radiant gold. Stunning. Bold. Glistening wings.

It was the true part of Civic, Valerie realized. Hidden by layers of cold embittered dirt was a heart of gold. It wanted to shine but was unable to, bound by the life that kept suppressing it. When it shone, it shone beautifully. So beautiful it dared to outshine the sun.